Josh Boyd was one of seven four-star recruits signed in the 2009 class at Mississippi State.

The former U.S. Army All-American came up for the Bulldogs spring game and left even more eager to get on the field. He watched from the sidelines and saw more balance from his future teammates.

"The spring game was pretty good," Boyd said. "It was a whole lot better than last year. The offense looks a little better this year and the defense still looks good so everything went real good."

Boyd was one of several signees that came to Starkville to attend the spring game. He stated that he already felt like he was a Bulldog even though he is still in high school.

"Being out there with everybody makes me really want to get out there," Boyd said. "I feel like I am already apart of the team even though I'm not there yet."

Whenever he does arrive on campus, defensive line coach David Turner will be waiting on him ready to throw him into the fire as a freshman.

"He told it's going to be tough so I need to come in, in shape," Boyd said of Turner. "He told me it's going to be a little rough on me at first but I'll get into it after a while."

Turner is not the only coach that Boyd has been talking to. He mentioned that new MSU head coach Dan Mullen "calls every now and then just to talk".

During all those conversations with the coaching staff Boyd stated that redshirting has not been discussed.

"He calls every now and then just to talk," Boyd said.

Since signing day Boyd has been hard at work preparing himself to play in the trenches of the Southeastern Conference next season.

"I've just been running, lifting weights and going to school," Boyd said. "I'm still doing track. I do the shot-put and discus."

Boyd has also added a few pounds to his 6-foot-4 frame. Boyd said that he is up to 280-pounds now.

This past season, Boyd received first-team all-state and also played in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Classic. He led Philadelphia to a 9-3 record and into the second round of the Class 3A playoffs posting 112 tackles, seven sacks and six more tackles for loss.

The former Dandy Dozen selection also made 154 tackles, 27 for loss and eight sacks as a junior and also blocked two punts and two extra points. He chose State over offers from Miami, Ole Miss, Auburn, Florida State, Southern Miss and Tennessee.

Boyd was rated the No. 15 defensive tackle in the country including the fourth best pass rusher and athlete at that position. He is also considered the No. 6 prospect in Mississippi this past season.

Boyd plans on enrolling this summer in order to get adjusted to the school and go through the summer conditioning program with the rest of his teammates.

"I think I'm going to come in during the summer," Boyd said. "I think they want me to come in June. I don't know if they want me to do summer school or what. Probably that first month I'm just going to workout then go to summer school in July."